Chubby's, the diner chain known for piling biscuits and gravy, chicken-fried steak and banana nut pancakes onto plates across Dallas, has closed its location at 7474 S. Cockrell Hill Rd. in southwest Dallas. The restaurant near I-20 and 67 shut down on October 31, 2026, ending an 18-year run at that address.
A Longtime Southwest Dallas Fixture Goes Dark
According to CultureMap Dallas, the Cockrell Hill location had occupied its address since 2008, taking over a space that had previously housed an Owens Family Restaurant and, before that, a Bob Evans restaurant. A manager at Chubby's original location confirmed to the outlet that the Cockrell Hill restaurant had closed. The property itself has been on the market since June 2026, per the article, and a property spokesperson said the building was for sale because its owner was ready to retire.
The closure leaves Chubby's original location at 11331 E. Northwest Hwy. as the brand's flagship. The Dallas Observer identifies that address as sitting in Lake Highlands, and the diner there still serves breakfast all day. A commercial listing for the Cockrell Hill property posted by DUWEST describes the site as actively marketed and still operating as a Chubby's restaurant, a detail that conflicts with the confirmed closure reported by CultureMap. The listing puts the building at 5,265 square feet on a 0.83-acre lot, built in 1989.
From Greek Immigrant Roots to a Four-Location Chain
Chubby's traces its roots to John and George Touris, Greek immigrant brothers who founded the diner in 1987. John Touris was 16 when he emigrated from Greece to Buffalo, New York, in 1978, before moving to Dallas in 1982 and opening a restaurant called Dough Boys. That business evolved into Chubby's after moving to Northwest Highway, and the brothers eventually expanded the concept to four locations spread across Plano, Lancaster and near Duncanville. The Plano and Lancaster locations have since closed, leaving the Northwest Highway diner as the lone survivor following the Cockrell Hill shutdown.
The Observer has praised the surviving location for serving diner-style food at a relatively low price, with a menu spanning pancakes, omelets, chicken-fried steak, burgers, sandwiches, salads and a mix of Italian and Greek dishes. A breakfast guide the outlet published in April 2026 listed both the Northwest Highway and Cockrell Hill locations, noting Chubby's had been known for its friendly service and gluttonous breakfast options since it opened in 1987. That same guide recommended the restaurant's Famous Banana Nut Pancakes and a steak-topped omelet, adding that the reasonable prices won't ruin your morning.
Where Chubby's Fits in Dallas Diner Culture
In assessing Chubby's standing among Dallas diners, the Observer has suggested a more apt comparison for Chubby's would be Norma's, Mama's Daughters' and Luckys Café — all fellow fixtures of the city's old-school breakfast scene. With one location gone and a for-sale sign hanging over the vacated Cockrell Hill building, the Northwest Highway original now carries that comparison largely on its own.
